All posts tagged: interiors

Domestic Anthropology and Interior Design

Published by Karen Knox

Well this sounds very serious doesn’t it? What is Domestic Anthropology? It’s the study of human behaviours and how our cultures, traditions and societal changes have affected how we use our homes. I’m fascinated by people, particularly how individuals and families interact, move around one another and within their four walls. Everything I’ve learned about people’s habits, pathways and needs in the home environment has been banked and informs all of my design. As the world evolves those needs change too and the world has moved on a great deal just over the past 24 months, so much so that it seems like everyone is extending, redecorating or remodelling to accommodate this societal shift. I’ve always viewed the home as a living entity, another family member; they age and change just like as we do. This anthropological interest in our domestic spaces helps me to focus on providing alternative and creative design solutions. I’m not interested in putting things where they’ve always been, because… “well that’s where the laundry rooms goes isn’t it?” Actually, if it …

Anaglypta – It’s back in a big way

Published by Karen Knox

For those of you in the know, you won’t need any convincing about Anaglypta. Yes, that wallpaper we were all moaning about having to strip off our walls back in the 80’s. Well it’s back. In a big way. But for those of you that might need a little arm twisting, here I am, happy to get physical and twist away. Check out these images. Maybe they’ll make you see Anaglypta in a whole new light. Derby Now, this is probably how you remember it best. Normally white or off white. But here, paired with a concrete floor, industrial furniture, warm wood and metallics, it couldn’t look much different to the days of your nan’s front room. Imagine your nan having this light. And styling up the writing bureau… Egon Anaglypta was developed by Thomas Palmer over 130 years ago. The name being taken from the Greek, for ‘raised cameo’. Lincolnshire Brick It’s the perfect compromise between pattered/multicolour wallpaper and painted, plastered walls. Anaglypta gives your room some dimension and depth plus the option to …

#IKEAatmine

Published by Karen Knox

If you’re not familiar with at{mine} then you really need to get on board. It’s a place for interiors junkies to share images of their home, work spaces, beautiful rooms, vignettes, super cool styling and photography. It’s a real treasure trove of interiors goodness. You could easily lose an hour on there just ogling the most beautiful images. Each month, at{mine} introduce a different “Style Story” curated by a guest brand, designer, writer, photographer, interiors icon… and this month it’s Ikea. I’m sure you’re already aware how big a fan I am of Ikea. If you just search the word Ikea on my blog, there’s over 55 mentions. Not bad going Ikea, for a blog that’s about 18 months old. So what’s #IKEAatmine all about then? Show us how you live with IKEA: It’s the Living Room for October! IKEA UK in collaboration with at{mine} is introducing the brand new community hashtag #IKEAatmine. Every month we’ll invite you to share a different room/theme containing at least one item from IKEA using #IKEAatmine and we’ll feature …

Gild Hall

Published by Karen Knox

I wasn’t planning on writing a post about our honeymoon. I mean, it’s not really any of your business now is it? But I couldn’t not go on a little bit about how deliciously handsome our hotel was. Especially seeing as I have more photos of the hotel than anything else. Gild Hall “Amid the iconic gold and brass of Wall Street NYC, you’ll find leather and bone of an Aspen country house, by star designer Jim Walrod.” Not only named after its location on Gold Street within the Financial District of Manhattan, Gild Hall opened just before the financial bubble burst on Wall Street which is only a few blocks away. Gild Hall is located in a tall brick building formerly occupied by a Holiday Inn. Not that you’d ever guess when entering the two-story reception. You’re immediately hit with some gasp-worthy design, including an antler chandelier, animal hide rugs, mid-century leather furniture and dark wooden walls lined with vintage photography and books galore. Checking in. Checking subway updates. A reflection into the lobby. And my husbandado waiting patiently whilst i’m faffing about with …

An Eclectic Living Room – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

Ages ago, back in April, I introduced you to some of the projects I was working on. I can’t always feature every project on the blog. Not because I don’t want to, but time doesn’t always allow me to. Well, that…. and an angry dog that didn’t really like me being in the room I needed to work in. This is the room, on my first visit: It had a great log burner, original chimney breast and stripped floorboards, big bay window and some lovely pieces of furniture. The homeowner’s love of white, vintage finds and Scandi design (baskets) was more than apparent. But she just wasn’t feeling this space at all and couldn’t quite work out why. It’s a north facing room, so doesn’t get the best light. Flat white and grey weren’t doing this space any favours. Their plan was to keep it minimal. But it kinda just felt a bit cold and unfinished. The two seating areas felt disconnected and the L shaped sofa was awkward in the space. So how did I make …

The Pod

Published by Karen Knox

I last mentioned “The Pod” in the Peignoir and Worsted reveal post. You can see the flash of Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue through the door at the top of the landing here: The Pod, named mainly due to its size, 1.5m x 1.9m is just about big enough to fit a single bed in. A single bed and one small book. It’s actually used as the home office. Not the most successful one, however: Before It had gotten so cramped the homeowner had set up office-camp on the kitchen table downstairs. Not great when you’re working from home. Seeing your computer all the time means you’re switched on 24/7. I know a few of you out there can relate to that. It’s not good for a healthy work/life balance. Things that needed sorting were: The desk was too deep and interfered with the door architrave. There’s not nearly enough storage but the amount of “stuff” (which needed downsizing). Electrical trunking ran across the top of the desk meaning cables were trailing all over the place. It felt cold …

Off Black & Shadow White

Published by Karen Knox

Following on from Peignoir and Worsted (i’ve stopped crying now btw) i’m going to give you a pre “final reveal” peep at how the living room at the Masonic Villas project is looking…. now it’s gone all monochrome on us. Please bear in mind, the room doesn’t have everything in it just yet. Still some pieces to arrive, lighting to fix, shelves to style and lots of artwork to hang. LOTS. But I already love it. Farrow & Ball’s Off Black and Shadow White have given this Victorian living room, bursting with original period features, a real contemporary, Scandinavian edge. Let’s take a look at how colour alone can transform a space. Before After (with barely anything in it yet) I want to live in this room. Before After See how this space has been completely transformed, without actually changing all that much? Same furniture, same curtains, same layout-ish. With those Off Black walls, everything that sits in front of them just looks amazeballs. Shadow White, one of Farrow and Ball’s new colours for 2016 was chosen for the woodwork, …

At Home With… Making Spaces

Published by Karen Knox

It’s been another big week here at Making Spaces HQ. And my last one before I have a week off work. A week off! It’ll be the first one i’ve had in nearly 18 months. I so need it. In fact our little family of three does. We’re off to Centerparcs for some much needed downtime from all things digital, breath in some fresh air and take some time to make memories with the fam. I couldn’t not share this with you guys though… i’m currently featured on Houzz UK as part of their “At Home With…” series. And i’m actually pretty proud of myself right now. There’s a great interview over there with yours truly (which actually makes me sound like a nice person, who’d a thought!?) You can have a proper nosey around my home, all with a chance to win a lovely silk cushion from one of my fave places to shop. Silk cushion from The Other Duckling I’ve actually had tears in my eyes from reading some of the comments on the …

We have paint

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve had an exciting delivery this week, even the Fedex guy mentioned how “posh” these paints are. It’s not for me mind, it’s for the Masonic Villas project. I’ve never worked with Farrow and Ball paints before and have heard so much about it; how the natural pigments enhance the colours, making them richer, deeper and more complex, subtly changing in tone throughout the day. Am really looking forward to the next few weeks. Time to see F&B, up on some walls, doing its thing. And as it’s arrived, I thought it was only fair of me to share what colours we’ve chosen for all three spaces. A re-cap. The living room: The hallway, stairs and landing: And the office space (aka. The Pod) Farrow and Ball provided us with the most perfect palette for these three rooms. Including a whopping four from their nine new colours announced and released earlier this year. So let me take you on the colour palette tour…. For the living room: Farrow and Ball’s Off Black and Shadow White We …

“Here are a few of my favourite Pins…”

Published by Karen Knox

(Did you get my Sound of Music reference?) I’ve not mentioned the Masonic Villas project for a little while, mainly because i’ve been working like a donkey, juggling four other projects dotted around the region. Eeesh. Anyhoo, the last time this project got a mention on le blog, the living room had just had the ceiling lighting updated. Since then, i’ve been busy planning the schedule of work, solving problems, booking trades and placing orders. The paint for the whole redesign is on its way. Exciting indeed. I’ve also been Pinning like a demon, pieces that I think would look fab in this project. Some of them will make it, some won’t, but I thought it would be nice to share with you, some of my finds. To be precise, 10 of my finds. Pieces for the living room, home office and hallway. Come see. Lara Armchair – Fern and Grey Leather Chair – Cox & Cox Hoxton Swing Arm Wall Light – Bluesuntree Indian Cart Coffee Table – House Junkie Beni Ourain Moroccan Berber Rug – …